Mom Do Not Lose!

What's she trying to say?
Maybe it's because this is the second list that I asked her to make... I lost the first one...

Cheeky little thing.

I wish I were

I wish I were better at mornings.

I have great intentions of getting things done in the wee morning hours.  I could get that run in, and that 15 minute body rock in.  I could study my scriptures and download the pics I need for my blog.  I could do some of my fly lady chores for the day. 

I could eat breakfast.

The sad thing is, I could actually get that all done because it all takes a matter of minutes to do...

I wish I were better at actually doing those dang body rock exercises.  In the words of fly lady, "you can do anything for 15 minutes."  But I never start, so I never finish.

I wish I were better with change.

I get flustered when I have an expectation for the way I'm going to do things and others come and change it all up, and I can't do a thing about it.  I think it's a pride issue.

I wish I were better at making dinner.

This isn't something I can control though.  It's a time restraint.  And I'm trying to think of ways that I can have fabulous food, that doesn't take longer than a half hour to prepare, and that's healthy for us.

I have no idea what I'm doing when it comes to nutrition.  Or cooking.

I wish I were better at cleaning.

I have all I need with Fly Lady.  But I'm lazy. 

I wish I were better at not being lazy.  There, I said it.

I wish I were better at remembering birthdays.

So it's okay if you don't remember ours, I don't hold it against you, I swear.  Truth is, I'm probably going to forget yours, so don't sweat it.

I wish I were better at staying in touch.

Staying in touch just feels so much like small talk... and I'm no good at small talk.

I wish I were better at small talk.

Maybe I need to make a list on my phone: "simple questions to use in a pinch, when you feel awkward and your brain has wiped out on you and gone completely blank, so you're not staring at anything and everything except the person you should be talking to..."

I wish I were better at starting things.  If I could just start them, I'd do them.

I wish I were better at believing in myself.

I wish I were better at believing myself  when I try to think that I'm beautiful just the way I am.

Why is that so hard to do?

Confession: I am a lister

Confession: I am a lister.

I can't function without them.

Right now I'm working off of three lists.  And if I'm going to be perfectly honest I guess I'll have to admit that I just started a fourth about an hour ago.

Lists purge my brain.  They organize me.  They help me remember the small details that will matter and the random items.

I can sleep at night because I know it's all safe on my list and I don't have to worry about forgetting any of it or keeping it all straight. 

Perhaps this plays into my slight OCD nature?  Or maybe it's just because I have 6 kids and a very full life? 

I even have a list that started at Thanksgiving that listed all the events I needed to plan for.  It keeps me from forgetting anything now that we're in the middle of birthday season.
Thanksgiving (hosted at my house)
West's birthday
Christmas (all three stages of it)
Jayme's birthday
New Year's
Anniversary
Cali's birthday
Valentine's day
Florida trip
Casidee's birthday
Easter
Tayler's birthday
Family Reunion

Now that I know that the trip to Florida for my brother's wedding and Casidee's birthday are all on lists and under control, I started a list for Easter. 

It's not that I'm an over achiever, it's just that it takes me this long to feel I have a grasp on the next situation in line.  I list and re-list until I'm satisfied with the details and the "to do" and the "to buy" parts.  When it gets closer I start assigning days to get the tasks done.  Then I know it will all happen without running out of time. 

Sometimes I make lists on a spreadsheet on the computer and print them out, but I usually only do this when it involves the circus packing for a trip.  I make the packing list, add the names, and then they can color in the box under their name when they've packed that item.  It works so well.  It also helps me to see what laundry needs to be done so they can finish packing :).  I love taking the guess work out of life.

I guess perhaps the next perfect stranger who says to me, "you sure do have your hands full! How ever do you do it?"  I could just simply answer,
"I make a list."